Americans trust local governments most, new poll finds

Washington – Voters trust local government officials to address the issues that matter to them over state and federal government entities, according to the results of a new Mason-Dixon poll for the National League of Cities.

“This poll confirms the strength of our nation’s cities and towns and their efficiency in managing the various needs of our diverse communities,” Clarence Anthony, executive director of the National League of Cities said in a statement. “Local governments are trusted to address the issues that are critical to the everyday lives of Americans.”

The national poll, which surveyed 1,000 registered voters on March 27 and 28 and April 1, 2013, asked “Which level of government do you trust the most to address issues that matter in your life: local government, state government or the federal government?” It found 37 placed their trust in their local governments, as opposed to 22 for state and 12 trusting federal.

The survey found women had more faith in the local government than men, and voters between the ages of 35 and 49 ranked as both the least trusting of the federal government and the most trusting of local government. Among Democrats, 22 percent expressed the most faith in the federal government (a sentiment shared by 12 percent of independents), while no one identifying as a Republican shared that trust. However, the poll found faith in local government was relatively bipartisan with 32 percent of Democrats, 39 percent of Independents and 40 percent of Republicans reporting they trusted their local governments the most. The survey found that 26 percent of Republicans, 21 percent of Independents and 19 percent of Democrats trusted their state governments most.

President of the National League of Cities and Mayor of Avondale, Ariz., Marie Lopez Rogers said in a statement, “…this survey shows that when it comes to getting the job done on critical issues in people’s lives, voters firmly entrust their local leaders who are neighbors they know and trust.”